As Sol's mental frequency wave blanketed a ten-kilometer radius, every human, Thiren, and humanoid AI within the Hollow abruptly turned their heads in his direction.

And right beside Sol, all five companions were struck by the same red-eyed frenzy.

Billy and Zhu Yuan drew their guns, Qingyi gripped her custom three-section staff, Anby unsheathed her Thunder Blade, and Nicole raised her integrated box weapon.

"I knew it," Sol muttered, sighing as he observed the scene before him. "They just said they'd go easy—now they look ready to kill."

The five, having lost all rationality, launched their attacks. Bullets, blades, and staffs came flying at him all at once.

Sol rolled into invincibility frames, instantly appearing behind Billy.

With his ample ammunition and firepower suppression capabilities, Billy was without a doubt the most dangerous among them.

Like in any team fight, the archer always draws the most aggro.

"Rider Kick!"

Sol soared into the air, delivering a flying kick from behind.

But Billy, seemingly awakened into a killer instinct, twisted both pistols around with lightning speed—the muzzles already aiming back from his waist before his body even turned.

Fortunately, Sol was just a hair faster. The Rider Kick landed first.

Boom-crack!

A ten-ton impact slammed Billy to the ground, pinned beneath Sol's foot.

"Damn, that was close!"

Sol looked down at the bullets that were just about to fire and couldn't help but break into a cold sweat.

As expected of a high-level combat model—despite Sol's hundred-meter-in-one-second speed, Billy had still reacted in time.

Had he been even 0.1 seconds slower, he'd have taken a point-blank shot and been forced into dodge status.

But in the end, a marksman is still a marksman. Against a swift melee fighter with sprint and untargetable skills, it was game over.

Next came Nicole and Zhu Yuan. With a rapid roll, Sol closed the distance and unleashed a Power Fist to disable both, tucking them under his left arm.

Thankfully, he'd trained in combat while holding Nicole two days ago. Otherwise, dealing with the remaining Qingyi and Anby would've been much trickier.

In the final showdown with Qingyi and Anby, Sol engaged in multiple dodge duels. Anby went down first.

Qingyi, being a constructed automaton, clearly had a thicker health pool. It took Sol a couple more kicks to bring her down.

No doubt about it—these people were the elite of elites. Qingyi's strength alone was in the multi-ton range. If Sol didn't possess ten tons of force himself, he wouldn't have been able to restrain her.

Anby, even when pinned, flailed wildly like a miniature monster.

And so, with Nicole and Zhu Yuan under his left arm, Qingyi and Anby under his right, and Billy squirming underfoot—Sol completed a six-person combo technique in the weirdest pose imaginable, maintaining the release of his [Taunt] skill.

Seconds later, two Hollow Raiders in anti-corrosion helmets suddenly emerged from a debris-covered clearing.

They charged toward Sol, wielding modified baseball bats.

"There we go. So that's where the Hollow fissure was hiding."

Sol spotted more figures behind the two incoming Raiders.

Now that the fissure's location was confirmed, he immediately canceled [Taunt] and leapt off Billy.

"Who am I? Where am I?" Billy staggered up in a daze. "Did I just become a villain? And get kicked down by the Starlight Knight?"

But then he saw the two charging Hollow Raiders.

Temporarily setting aside his confusion, he fired two bursts at the thugs.

The two Raiders collapsed on the spot, falling with blank expressions.

They had no idea what had happened. They'd suddenly gone crazy, rushed out from hiding, and died just as inexplicably. It was all too strange.

Meanwhile, the four pinned under Sol's arms snapped back to consciousness and were released.

"Unprovoked assault, logic core override. Coincidence after coincidence—there must be a cause."

"Mr. Sol, could you please explain what you just did to us, and why you attacked Public Security officers?" Qingyi asked coldly, arms crossed.

The incident that had just occurred even affected her, a [01NGV1 Criminal Investigation Automaton]. That was terrifying.

To make it worse, she'd been tucked like a briefcase under Sol's arm, body fully pressed against his.

She could still feel a searing pain on her rear—her composure was on the verge of collapse.

Even if she wasn't human, and even if she was usually calm and composed, her face flushed with embarrassment.

"Senior Qingyi, you're being too harsh. Please don't take offense," Zhu Yuan said, a bit shame-faced. "Mr. Sol, you do owe us an explanation, though."

How he'd defeated them was one thing—but getting tucked under his arm like that? The physical contact had been… overwhelming.

She'd never even been in a relationship. That kind of contact was way too much.

"Ladies, this really isn't my fault. That's just how my skill works. Once activated, everyone in range becomes hostile and attacks me," Sol explained. "You, see? Nicole, Anby, Billy—they all got the same treatment."

At that, Nicole turned away in embarrassment. She didn't have the face for this.

Anby silently placed a hand on her sword… then let it go again. Her mind wavered between stab and no stab.

Billy was still thinking about that Rider Kick and offered no comment.

"..."

Qingyi and Zhu Yuan fell silent.

He was telling the truth. Everyone got the same treatment.

And the robot even got stomped into the dirt—that was worse than anything they'd experienced. Since he wasn't holding a grudge, they couldn't really be mad either.

"In fact, you two should be the ones apologizing to me," Sol said calmly. "As Public Security officers, attacking a good citizen who was only trying to help investigate? That's just… inappropriate."

"I used that skill for your benefit. I could've been killed by you. And now you're the ones scolding me?"

"Sigh. No good deed goes unpunished."

He shook his head dramatically, as if deeply wounded by their ingratitude.

"I'm sorry—truly!" Zhu Yuan bowed, visibly remorseful. "It was my fault. We misjudged you!"

She realized now—they'd been the first to strike. Sol had only reacted in defense.

He'd used that strange skill for their benefit, and had risked his life doing it. If he hadn't been so strong, he'd be dead by now.

They'd only suffered some bruises and embarrassment. But Sol… had risked everything!

A surge of guilt flooded Zhu Yuan's chest.

She deserved death for doubting Sol's intentions.

"Something… doesn't feel right," Qingyi muttered quietly.

It sounded right, but not entirely right.

Sure, Sol had helped them—but it didn't seem like the risk was that high.

And her butt still hurt. The shame hadn't faded at all.

"Senior Qingyi, quickly apologize to Mr. Sol! We misunderstood him!" Zhu Yuan grabbed her and bowed toward Sol together.

"No need. I'm a forgiving person," Sol said, waving it off. "It was my personal decision. No blame to you."

Power-fisting pretty girls and air-kicking little lolis might've felt a bit evil… but oddly exhilarating.

Honestly, he wouldn't mind doing it again.

"Thank you for your understanding, Mr. Sol."

Zhu Yuan looked moved.

He'd been misunderstood, assaulted, and still helped them. What a good man.

"Let's not dwell on this. We should focus on rescuing the kidnapped Bangboos." Sol pointed toward an open patch of ground. "Those two Hollow Raiders came from there. The fissure must be right under that rubble."

"Agreed. Now that we've located the Hollow fissure, we must act quickly and save the Bangboos."

Qingyi and Zhu Yuan immediately regained their composure.

The sooner they moved, the less danger the Bangboos would face.

"Zhu Yuan, can we… use enhanced interrogation later?"

Qingyi's eyes gleamed with menace.

To think those bastards had kidnapped Bangboos and put her in such an embarrassing position—she felt murderous.

But Sol had helped out of goodwill, so she couldn't take it out on him. Not that she could, anyway.

Those criminals, however… they deserved pain.

"..."

Zhu Yuan said nothing.

Part of her kind of wanted that too… but her Public Security conscience just wouldn't allow it.

Meanwhile, with the Cunning Hares—

"Sol, you looked way too pleased beating me up just now!" Nicole growled, yanking on his waist.

"Sorry, desperate times call for desperate measures." Sol smiled sheepishly. "It was the only way not to expose them."

"Hmph, fine. Since you had your reasons, I'll let it go this time." Nicole wasn't unreasonable—she just gave Sol a few punches and moved on.

Anby spoke calmly, "Next time, don't hit the stomach. I nearly puked my breakfast—it was very uncomfortable."

"Absolutely, I promise."

Sol responded awkwardly.

Anby said no more, returning to her usual quiet self.

"Boss Sol, did you really step on me just now?" Billy leaned against him, looking resentful.

He remembered it all now—he'd fired at Sol, gotten Rider Kicked, and stomped into the ground.

Meanwhile, all the girls were tucked under Sol's arms. That was some serious favoritism.

He was a brother, not a punching bag!

"Ahem, it was an emergency. You were the strongest, so I had to neutralize you first," Sol explained awkwardly.

"But still, underfoot? Aren't we best bros?"

"We are best bros, but I couldn't exactly pin the Public Security officers underfoot, and Nicole and Anby were off-limits too…" Sol trailed off.

Billy still looked resentful, so Sol finally said, "Alright, what do you want as compensation?"

"I wanna learn your Rider Kick!"

Billy lit up instantly.

"Sure, no problem."

Sol agreed without hesitation.

Finally, with everyone pacified, Sol let out a long breath.

Beating up your teammates might be fun in the moment—but the aftermath is hell.

If it happened again… he might not make it back.

Huh? That flowed really well.

Sol, infected by Qingyi's poetic phrasing, had a sudden realization.